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Cytology, cytochemistry and ultrastructure of glucagon-secreting cells

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Riassunto

Vengono prese in esame le principali metodiche morfologiche per la evidenziazione delle cellule A e ne viene ampiamente discussa la selettività. Particolare rilievo viene dato ai metodi per gli indoli e alle osservazioni immunoistochimiche e di microscopia elettronica. Vengono riferiti i dati immunoistochimici relativi alle cellule A quali cellule secernenti il glucagone, nonché le osservazioni ultrastrutturali che fanno pensare ad una eterogeneità dei granuli α. Attualmente non possediamo prove morfologiche definitive dell'esistenza di cellule A gastro-intestinali.

Résumé

Les principales méthodes morphologiques pour la détection des cellules A ont été examinées et leur sélectivité a été amplement discutée. Une attention particulière a été dédiée aux méthodes pour les indoles et aux observations immunoistochimiques et ultrastructurelles. Les Auteurs rapportent les données immunoistochimiques concernant les cellules A telles que cellules dotées d'activité glucagono-sécrétive, ainsi que les observations ultrastructurelles qui font penser à une éterogénéité des granules α. Actuellement il n'existe pas des preuves morphologiques définitives de l'existence de cellules A gastro-intestinales.

Resumen

Se examinan las metódicas morfológicas para la evidenciación de las células A y se discute ampliamente la selectividad. Se da particular importancia a los métodos al indol y a las observaciones inmunohistoquímicas y de microscopia electrónica. Se refieren los datos inmunohistoquímicos relativos a las células A tales como células secretoras de glucagon y las observaciones electrónmicroscopicas que hacen pensar en una heterogeneidad de los gránulos α. Actualmente no tenemos pruebas morfológicas sobre la existencia de células A gastrointestinales.

Zusammenfassung

Es werden die verschiedenen wichtigsten morphologischen Methoden fuer die Darstellung der A-Zellen eroertert und deren Selektivitaet diskutiert. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird den Methoden fuer die Indole, sowie den immunohistochemischen Beobachtungen und der Elektronenmikroskopie gewidmet. Es werden die immunohistochemischen Daten betr. die A-Zellen als Glukagon-sezernierende Zellen mitgeteilt, ferner die ultrastrukturellen Beobachtungen, welche an einen heterogenen Charakter der α-Koerner denken lassen. Derzeit verfuegen wir ueber keine endgueltign morphologischen Beweise betr. das Dasein von gastro-intestinalen A-Zellen.

Summary

The main morphological methods for the detection of islet A-cells are considered and their selectivity discussed, with special reference to indole methods and to immunohistochemical and electron microscope observations. Immunohistochemical data on A-cells as glucagon-secreting cells and electron microscope observations suggesting heterogeneity of α-granules are reported. There is at present no definitive morphological proof of the existence of gastrointestinal A-cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica II, Università degli Studi di Roma, Viale Regina Elena, 324, 00161, Roma, Italy

    Cesare Cavallero, Enrico Solcia, Gabriele Vassallo, Carlo Capella & Giuseppe Bussolati

Authors
  1. Cesare Cavallero
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  2. Enrico Solcia
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  3. Gabriele Vassallo
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  4. Carlo Capella
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  5. Giuseppe Bussolati
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Additional information

This investigation was supported in part by grants no. 69.02114 115.1139.0 and no. 70.01022.04 from the Italian Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.Presented as a communication to the Giornata Europea di studio sul glucagone, Padova, 7 marzo 1970.

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Cavallero, C., Solcia, E., Vassallo, G. et al. Cytology, cytochemistry and ultrastructure of glucagon-secreting cells. Acta diabet. lat 7, 542–556 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01556805

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